Sgt Grit Marine Forums

I'm about a year and half from the end of my contract with the Air Force, and though I don't regret joining this branch, I chose it because at the time I was too doubtful of myself to try the Marines.  I've grown up a lot since then, and there's no doubt in my mind that I can and will join the Marines.  My question is, I'm no "Type A" personality and though I have no problem fitting into the Air Force, would someone quiet (though not shy) fit into a group as "gung-ho" as the Marines?  Also, I'm aircrew in my current job, would something like SERE training carry over to the Marines if I were to try to land another flying job there?  If I were to go infantry, is there any sort of demand for Arabic speakers, or is that duty delegated to contracted 'terps (excuse my ignorance of the ground war in Iraq)?

Every time I watch the news and see that a service member has been killed abroad, I reflect on the difference between how I sacrifice and how they sacrificed, and I can't help but feel that I'm not doing all I can.  Thank you for what you do.

Don't believ ALL the hype.  Marines are just people with a good training program.  My platoon graguated a hash mark PFC which freaked us all out.  Turns out he'd done a cruise in the AF.  So, it can be done.  Not sure about your ?'s re SERE etc.  Maybe a winger can help.  Good luck and don't sell yourself short.  You stepped up while others are still loping the mule and sniffing after Suzzie.  Good luck.

 you wouldnt believe the former service members that have gone through bootcamp and just recently. a former corpsman,been to Iraq already,just graduated from bootcamp.your skills would be invaluable to the Corps.join and have some fun in the man's service-ok,i have friends in the AF too,Navy and Army.i think you would be light years ahead of the others and could help the recruits,too.

Well sonny, here's the deal.........I was in the Air Farce and I was Aircrew.  Then I was US Army (non-winger), then I was USMC, in the Wing ~ I might add and as a Aircrew, a UH-1N Crew Chief/Aerial Gunner/(Test on both Hueys and Cobras).  You will have to redo just about all your training............  Your rank will be basically up to many variables, but I'll guarranty, you will not enter the Corps with the same pay grade as you left the Air Farce.(it will be lower, you may have to re-do Boot too.........you may look at inter-service tranfer, but then (read the above again)  You will realize one thing once in the Marine Air Wing, standards for everything are much higher than the Air Farce.....Sorry Charlie!

BTW, you are still an A1C (E-3)!!!!.(and there is no chance of picking up E-5 S/Sgt then by the end of your first tour - huh?!).............you will definately be disappointed in how you are going to be treated and handled...........Try to make Senior Airman at least.(and work on being an extrovert)

 ^ Well I came into the Air Force right out of high school as an E-2, and without signing a six year contract it takes 3 years to become a Senior Airman.  I'll be E-4 by the time I get out, but there's little chance I'll make E-5 without extending/re-enlisting.  The way I understand it, the Marines Corps is the one branch that makes you start over from scratch, meaning I'll be treated as if I'd never served in the military before, but that's not that big of a deal to me.

That's right kid, you will start from "scratch" or very close to it.

It didn't matter how much flt time I had with 135's, attended the USAFA Prep School, put in 2 years at USAFA and highest e-tool rank was E-5 S/Sgt.  Or that in the Army, I was "Top Dog" in Infantry School, Jungle School, Airborne School, ReCondo School, Helo Assault Course, and RANGER School Graduate.............When I went into the Corps, I started at the bottom, then they changed their mind, then realized they made a mistake, by changing their mind.  But I never regretted the next 20 years.

Christ Gunny....ya must have pissed in someone's wheaties for them to change their mind THAT much

I am pretty sure that there would at least be a small stipend for you if you speak/write arabic fluently, if you are not an interpreter as your MOS..there is a test you must take and pass and you get a little kickback for it.

Other than that, I can't really answer anything else other than to say I know a lot of "quiet" types and even some really "shy" people who made it in the USMC and kicked a lot of @ss doing it, that wouldn't be anything I worried about.

Well goodie for you honey-Co.........If he's not doing well in the Air Farce, he will really regret joining the Marines.  He doesn't realize where Arabic Translators go and that is with the Troops on the Line, he will not be senior enough to hang out in the rear.

 ^ I didn't mean to give the impression that I'm not doing well in the Air Force, I'm doing great actually, I've had a lot of fun and met many interesting people.  And I would have no qualms about going to the front lines, that's why I want to join the Marines.

Then stop wasting our time and just do it........why don't you just apply for an Interservice Transfer. 

 I didn't know there was anything like that, I'll look it up.